When death or impending death is referred to only in code words, which becomes chilling when the audience realizes what they are referring to. Usually used by sinister conspiracies, powerful gangsters, {{Dystopia}}n bureaucrats (see also DoubleSpeak), [[WouldBeRudeToSayGenocide genocidal maniacs]], [[PathOfInspiration Paths of Inspiration]], or ScaryDogmaticAliens. Occasionally also invoked by "good guy" operations, too (spy agencies, etc.) but less frequently.

In some cases, the words 'destroyed' or 'erased' may be used, not as a euphemism, but rather because the word 'killed' is insufficient. Usually refers to those who have suffered a FateWorseThanDeath, or an individual who has been [[{{Unperson}} killed and wiped from all records]]. Or they just don't acknowledge them as people to begin with.

This is similar to NeverSayDie, but isn't associated with censorship; violent deaths will be shown, or someone will explain the real meaning of the euphemism (that is, if it's necessary to do so, since in most cases the speaker will use a tone of voice that makes it clear). It's also the supertrope of TroubleEntendre and ReleasedToElsewhere. These terms are particularly susceptible to the EuphemismTreadmill; as people forget that terms like "execute" and "liquidate" were ever euphemisms in the first place, they need to come up with more and more baroque ways of talking around the subject.

The opposite of this would be NoLongerWithUs.

'''As a DeathTrope, all Spoilers will be unmarked ahead. Beware.'''----!!Examples:[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]* For such a MagnificentBastard, you'd think ''Manga/FushigiYuugi'''s Nakago would say "You will die" to his last enemy. But no, he tells Miaka, "Neither of you will exist in either world." (Never you mind who the other person referred to is.)* ''Manga/SaintYoungMen'' has "Going home". Played for laughs, considering that the main characters are Buddha and Jesus.* In ''Anime/TekkenTheMotionPicture'', Kazuya tells Nina to remind Heihachi to "clean his (Heihachi's own) neck". Note that the Japanese idiom "wash your neck" effectively means "I'm going to kill you and take your head as a trophy, so get ready"; the ''Tekken'' movie suffered from an infamously bad BlindIdiotTranslation and rendered the phrase directly into English with no explanation, which just didn't sound right.* ''Manga/BlackButler'': In the anime, the main villain desires to "[[PureIsNotGood purify]]" humans of their sins (i.e., kill or [[FakeMemories brainwash]] them into an EmptyShell), and often repeats the following MadnessMantra:--> ''[[KnightTemplar Snuff out the Unclean]]''\\''[[SocialDarwinism Snuff out the Unnecessary]]''\\''[[ANaziByAnyOtherName Snuff out the Unwanted]]''* In ''Manga/DeathNote'' Kira frequently uses euphemisms such as "tonight's judgments," "punishments," or "cleansing the world" for mass killings of criminals. * Invoked in ''{{LightNovel/Baccano}}'': When the Russo family boss is fed up with a small time business double dealing him one too many times, he suggests his nephew, the AxeCrazy hitman Ladd, to go have a "chat" with them. Even Ladd is gleefully aware that if he's sent anywhere, it's only to kill people, but his uncle reiterates that all he's suggesting Ladd to do is go over and [[PlausibleDeniability "talk"]] to them.* Used near the end of ''Manga/SatouKashiNoDanganWaUchinukenai'' by Muzuko's father to describe her death [[OffingTheOffspring after killing her]]. "She [[Literature/TheLittleMermaid turned into sea foam]]".* In ''Anime/PlasticMemories'', Giftias are being "retrieved". This boils down a form of euthanasia, after which their bodies are sent back to their manufacturer for reuse.* Used at the beginning of ''Anime/CodeGeass'' when Prince Clovis orders a "planned urban renewal" of the slums in Shinjuku to rid the area of any stragglers in their search for Lelouch and C.C.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Card Games]]* In the ''TabletopGame/NinjaBurger'' card game, a ninja who has lost all his Honor "apologizes to his ancestors -- in person". This is also mentioned if the total Honor in play falls below a threshold; then it's the ''manager'' who has to go "apologize to his ancestors," meaning his position comes open, triggering the endgame.* ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering'': The Phyrexians do not horribly mutilate people beyond all recognition, give them cybernetic enhancements, and reshape their bodies. They ''compleat'' them. And no, [[InsistentTerminology that's not a typo.]][[/folder]]

[[folder:Comedy]]* [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]] during one of the routines on Creator/BillCosby's ''I Started Out as a Child'' comedy album. When describing the high mortality rate of medics during the Korean War, Cosby mentions a medic getting "zonked" and then, a few seconds later, interrupts himself to [[DontExplainTheJoke explain: "'Zonked' means 'dead'."]]* Series/MontyPythonsFlyingCircus's "Dead Parrot Sketch" is chiefly a barrage of these from the displeased customer to the pet shop owner who sold him a dead parrot.** A few phrases from this sketch, most notably "pining for the fjords", also turned into deadly euphemisms by association, while initially used by the shop owner to ''deny'' that the parrot was dead.* A lawyer is said to have written to a RemittanceMan's father of his son's death, tactfully avoiding any mention of the fact that he was hanged for cattle rustling: "Regret to inform you of the death of your son. He was participating in a public event when the platform gave way."[[/folder]]

[[folder:Comic Books]]* ''ComicBook/TheWildStorm:'' Zealot is introduced having just finished an "interview", or in layman's terms, "having taken out a group of bad guys via incredibly violent means".

[[/folder]]

[[folder:Films -- Animated]]* In the Disney version of ''Disney/PeterPan'', Captain Hook announces that the bomb he planted will cause Peter to "be blasted out of Never Land -- forever!"* ''WesternAnimation/MickeyDonaldGoofyTheThreeMusketeers'': When Mickey asks Captain Pete where Goofy is, he responds that Goofy's "being fitted for a halo".* In ''Disney/TheLionKing'', Mufasa tells Simba "One day the sun will set on my time here and will rise with you as the new king." Simba doesn't seem to understand Mufasa's meaning, and he gleefully looks forward to being king, never considering that his beloved father will be dead then. [[spoiler: It comes as a brutal shock to him when Mufasa dies sooner than anyone (except Scar) expected.]][[/folder]]

[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]* DirtyCop movies and TV shows will inevitably reference the arrestee "resisting arrest" as a euphemism for having beat them (or requesting that they be beat) senseless. Unfortunately also very much TruthInTelevision.* ''Film/ApocalypseNow'' has one in the opening, the real life euphemism: Terminate with extreme prejudice.* Creator/TimBurton's ''Film/{{Batman}}'': ComicBook/TheJoker is quite fond of these (fitting, given his history as a mobster):** "If this clown could touch Grissom, I'd have [[CutHisHeartOutWithASpoon handed him his lungs by now]]."** "If we can't work out our differences, why, we'll just shake hands and...''[[LiteralMinded that'll be it]]''."** [[PreAssKickingOneLiner "Time to pay the check."]]** "Hair color so natural, only your undertaker knows for sure!"** Now comes the part of the show where [[MercyKill I relieve you, the little people, of the burden of your failed and useless lives]]."*** There's also a milder example when RabidCop Eckhardt, explaining how two hoodlums Batman has captured were physically incapacitated, says that they "slipped on a banana peel."* Replicants in ''Film/BladeRunner'' are "retired," which really means "hunted down and executed."* Used repeatedly in ''Film/{{Brazil}}''. "Information retrieval" is [[DoubleSpeak jargon]] for "interrogation by [[ElectricTorture electric]] [[ColdBloodedTorture torture]]" (which the interrogated party is ''[[IncrediblyLamePun charged]]'' for, no less). When somebody dies, each bureau uses a different euphemism, such as "deleted," "inoperative," "excised," or "completed."* PlayedForLaughs in ''Film/CaddyshackII'', with a ShellShockedVeteran-turned-ProfessionalKiller (played by Creator/DanAykroyd) who claims that his specialty in the service was "demolitions... of an interpersonal nature."* In ''Film/{{Casablanca}}'', sarcastically [[LampshadeHanging lampshaded]] by Captain Renault:-->'''Laszlo''': May I see him?-->'''Strasser''': You would find the conversation a trifle one-sided. Signor Ugarte is dead.-->'''Renault''': I'm making out the report now. We haven't quite decided whether he committed suicide or died trying to escape.* In ''Film/{{Clonus}}'', when a clone is taken to be killed for his organs, the other clones are told he's "gone to America."* ''Film/{{Conspiracy}}'':** As befitting a film about the Holocaust, uses terms such as "deportation," "evacuation," and "resettlement" frequently.** [[EuphemismBuster Defied]] by SS officer Rudolf Lange who has already massacred thousands of innocents and so has no interest in helping the others pretend that ''their'' hands are clean.--> '''Lange''': I have the real feeling I "evacuated" thirty thousand Jews already -- by shooting them. Is what ''I'' did "evacuation"?* ''Film/TheCrow'': ** "Looks like he zigged when he should've zagged."** And later, after a ''very'' grisly vigilante slaying: [[StrippedToTheBone "They had to ID his teeth."]]* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Home}}'', after his bungling threatens to bring the Gorg to Earth, the other Boov threaten Oh with being "erased". * ''Film/{{Idiocracy}}'' uses ''Rehabilitation'' as the name of a demolition derby show -- and as a euphemism for execution in said show, no less.* ''Film/JugFace'': Those killed by the Pit are said to be " taken."* ''Film/LightsOfNewYork'': Hawk instructs the bootleggers to murder Eddie, first saying "Make him disappear", and then delivering a LargeHam in form of later parodied "Take him... For... A ride". * In ''Literature/LogansRun'', Logan 5 (a Sandman) is explaining his job to Jessica 6:-->'''Jessica 6''': That's what you do, isn't it? Kill?-->'''Logan 5''': I've never ''killed'' anyone! I ''terminate'' Runners.* ''Literature/LordOfTheRings'': In ''Return of the King'', the attack on Minas Tirith starts with Gothmog giving the order to "Release the prisoners." Cue severed Gondorian heads flying over the city walls.* Played with in ''Film/The51stState'': A small-time gangster asks his henchman to "take care" of someone. Later on, the gangster finds that person's dead body. "I told you to take care of him, not to ''take care'' of him!" It may be a ShoutOut to a similar misunderstanding in ''Film/PulpFiction''.* The often parodied and referenced euphemism in ''Film/TheGodfather'' "He sleeps with the fishes."* Used comically in the Bill Murray film ''Film/TheManWhoKnewTooLittle'', where the titular Man thinks he's acting in a play when he tells the assassin's bosses that a woman had "Gone #1" and subsequently "Flushed".* In the ''Film/{{Tron}}'' universe, the death of a program is called "deresolution" and programs who are killed are said to have been "derezzed." This crosses over with CallARabbitASmeerp as within the Grid, deresolution is equal to death.* ''Film/WhoFramedRogerRabbit'':** Eddie learns of Acme's death when Lt. Santino tells him "The rabbit cacked him last night".** The substance for killing toons is called "the dip."** Judge Doom also uses the word "execute" to describe what he is going to do to Roger after the rabbit is found guilty (''Execute'' literally means "carry out an action").* ''Film/JamesBond'':** Elliot Carver in ''Film/TomorrowNeverDies'', after learning that his wife has betrayed him to Bond, says he will "make her an appointment with the Doctor", by which he means hire an assassin to kill her.** Subverted by MI6 and Bond, who rarely if ever use any such language, with the Creator/JudiDench version of M outright using the word "kill" when discussing her orders (''Film/TheWorldIsNotEnough'', et al).* Film/MarvelCinematicUniverse:** In ''Film/CaptainAmericaTheFirstAvenger'', Johann Schmidt decided, after some Nazi officers referred to him as "Red Skull" (a name he ''[[BerserkButton despises]]'') when chewing him out, to "show them his weapons."** An ArmsDealer in ''Film/AvengersAgeOfUltron'' is on the phone with a client he's very unhappy with. At the end of the conversation he warns the customer that if things don't go how he wants, "The next missile I send you will come ''much'' faster."** A rare use by the good guys in ''Film/Item47'', when a SHIELD agent orders another to neutralize (kill) two civilians simply because they got their hands on some alien tech. The agent ordered to do the kill however, [[ScrewTheRulesIMakeThem ultimately interprets the order differently]].* In ''Film/RealGenius'', when a member of the think-tank won't go along with Decker's plan:--> '''Decker:''' I'm afraid we're going to have to liberate George.--> '''Carnagle:''' By "liberate," you mean "liquidate?"* In ''Film/SisterAct'', Deloris has just walked in on her mobster boyfriend Vince executing his treacherous limo driver. When he cheerfully acts as if nothing is wrong, emphasizing that ''everything's fine'', she quickly plays along and then leaves. He isn't fooled by her supposed complacence and tells his goons to "bring her back for a chat."-->'''Goon''': "And if she runs, then what?"\\'''Vince''': "Take care of it"\\''(Hearing this, Deloris drops her things and runs)''* Franchise/StarWars:** Leia Organa's impending execution in ''Franchise/StarWars: Film/ANewHope''. "I'm afraid she's scheduled to be terminated."** In ''Film/RevengeOfTheSith'', the BigBad Darth Sidious tells the leaders of Separatists Alliance he sent his new apprentice Darth Vader to their HQ to "take care of them". [[TooDumbToLive They don't take the hint]].* ''Film/TheTerminator'': "You're terminated, fucker!"* Ronan the Accuser of ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy'' has taken it upon himself to "cleanse" the galaxy, a possible reference to real-life religious extremism.* In ''Film/TrueLies'', Schwarzenegger says "you're fired" right before he [[spoiler: discharges the missile entangled with the villain into a building]]. This isn't the first film to have used this joke. It also appeared in ''Ricochet'' when the villain shoots someone hanging from a truck. There could be other examples.* In ''Film/CloudAtlas'', Fabricants--cloned waitresses in dystopic 22nd Century Korea--are told about "exaltation," which they believe is a honorary retirement ceremony but is actually [[spoiler: where they are slaughtered for meat to feed to other Fabricants.]]* PlayedForLaughs in ''Film/DuckSoup'':-->'''Firefly''': If anyone's caught taking graft - and I don't get my share,\\We stand him up against the wall and Pop! goes the weasel!* ''The Eiger Sanction'' (1975), 'sanction' being their word for assassination.* [[SubvertedTrope Subverted]] in ''Film/PulpFiction''. While Jules and Vince discuss their upcoming plans, Vince mentions that Marcellus had asked Vince to take care of his wife while he was away. Jules questions the phrase while pantomiming a gun to the head, thinking this trope is in effect, but Vince quickly reassures him that it's just a friendly night out.* Mortie from ''Film/NightNurse'' takes people for a "ride" when he wants to get rid of them for good.* In ''Film/It2017'', the clown-shaped HumanoidAbomination Pennywise refers to the [[ChildEater children he targets]] as "floating", once outright telling an intended victim, "Time to float!" [[spoiler:Turns out that his lair is [[CreepySouvenir littered with floating corpses]], whole and partially eaten; when he {{Mind Rape}}s Beverly into a coma with his [[BrownNote Deadlights]], she floats too.]][[/folder]]

[[folder:Literature]]* In the ''Amtrak Wars'' series there are references to "pulling a trick", where trick is really TRIC -- Terminal Radiation-Induced Cancer.* In ''Literature/TheBlackCompany'' novels, there's a part where Lady is running roughshod over a client city's entrenched priesthoods. A delegation is sent to her to demand that she free various prisoners; she tells her lieutenant something like "Tell them they've been released. They'll get the message."* The Guild of Assassins in the ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' novels prefer the term "inhume" (an obscure term for burial). They also refer to the victim as "the client.' The guild prides itself on its professionalism and sophistication; no gentleman wants to be killed by being hit over the head with a club by a two-dollar thug, after all.** In ''Discworld/{{Men At Arms}}'', the phrase "Inhumed with Extreme Impoliteness" is used and implied to be Discworld's version of "Terminated with Extreme Prejudice". ''Discworld/{{Hogfather}}'', Lord Downey uses the lovely phrase "removing inconvenient razorblades from the candyfloss of life." And in ''Discworld/GuardsGuards'', when the unnamed chief assassin is asked for help by Wonse (because of ThisIsYourBrainOnEvil), he says that the only kind of help he can think of to give was usually only requested to be given as a "surprise present" to someone else. There are probably more examples. Suffice it to say the Assassins' Guild loves Deadly Euphemisms.* ''Literature/MaximumRide'':** The School "retires" those creations which have [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness outlived their usefulness]]. Max, being [[DeadpanSnarker Max]], [[LampshadeHanging lampshades]] it.** In an odd example, the term "expired" is more than just a euphemism: experiments have literal expiration dates.* In Kazuo Ishiguro's novel, ''Literature/NeverLetMeGo'', "completed" is the term used when the clones die.** And by "die", we mean "have had all their vital organs harvested for transplant into non-clone people".* ''Literature/NineteenEightyFour.'' "Unperson" is the Newspeak term for a person who must be erased from history, making it look like they never existed at all... usually because the person has been arrested and executed. The Ministry of Truth edits newspaper and broadcast archives to remove all mention of such a person.** And the [=OldSpeak=] (English) term for what happens is, the person is "vaporized" (he vanishes like vapor). At the time, probably a riff on the Soviet term, "liquidated". Alas, it sounds cheesy now, because in a Sci Fi context, the term "vaporized" is often used literally.*** There's actually a point where "vaporized" '''is''' said to be a literal use: O'Brien tells Winston that "we shall turn you into gas and pour you into the stratosphere."** Interestingly enough, French "s'évaporer" or "se volatiliser", is still a common term for something vanishing.* In John Ringo's ''[[PosleenWarSeries Posleen War]]'' books, the Darhel will go to extreme lengths to avoid any words referring to death or violence.* The ''Franchise/StarTrek'' novel ''[[Literature/StarTrekFederation Federation]]'' has part of its plot in the late 21st Century, when the genocidal political movement [[ANaziByAnyOtherName Optimum]] used the term "contained" -- "As in containing the spread of contagion."* In Literature/TheBible, Jesus uses "sleep" or "rest" as a euphemism for [[CessationOfExistence death]], confusing others at least more than once. However, this has sort of the opposite effect the trope usually has, as Jesus is trying to point out the impermanence of death, a metaphor he completes by actually [[BackFromTheDead resurrecting the person he's referring to back to life]].* ''Literature/TheGiver'' uses the term "released," which is short for ReleasedToElsewhere. Subverted in that nobody knows it is a euphemism save the Giver (and later his successor, the Receiver) because nobody save him has any ''concept'' of death.* In Creator/StephenKing's ''Literature/TheLongWalk'', in which a fatal endurance walk is the main plot, being shot is referred to as, "buying a ticket".* The ChurchMilitant Whitecloaks in ''Literature/TheWheelOfTime'' once refer to the wholesale slaughter of a village as being "pacified."** Similarly, a male channeler who has had his powers burned out of him (which usually results in his suicide within a few months) is referred to as "gentled," while a female would be "stilled."** The Age of Legends survivors prefer the term "severed".* In ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}'', the books about the ''Literature/HorusHeresy'', Horus uses the word 'illuminate' to describe killing.* The characters of ''Literature/WatershipDown'' have two forms of Deadly Euphemism: the more generally used is to 'stop running', while the other is a mythological reference: to 'meet [[TheGrimReaper the Black Rabbit]].'* In the ''Literature/WildCards'' series, people who die gruesomely of the eponymous Takisian retrovirus are said to have "turned the Black Queen". People who survive in various states of BodyHorror are called "Jokers".* S. Andrew Swann's ''Literature/{{Hostile Takeover|Swann}}'' trilogy uses the phrase "orbital reduction of target" for OrbitalBombardment.* A Russian poet Maximillian Voloshin wrote a poem called ''Terminology'' which contains the various euphemisms used in Communist Russia. There are more than a dozen of them.* In ''Literature/TheAtrocityArchive'', Bob mentions to Mo that the Laundry has an agreement with Donald Knuth to keep volume four of ''The Art of Computer Programming'' from being published, which is why it spent so long in DevelopmentHell: "He doesn't publish it, and we don't render him metabolically challenged."* In Timeline-191 by Creator/HarryTurtledove, the Confederacy uses "population reduction" to refer to the mass killing of black people especially the ones imprisoned in concentration camps.* In ''You'll Like It Here (Everybody Does)'' by Ruth White, anyone that reaches the age of 65 is sent away on a bus for "Vacation 65." While there is an actual vacation involved, at the end of the third day, they're administered a lethal injection. Most people pretend like they don't know the truth, though they actually do, thanks to the efforts of LaResistance.* The 1975 Berkely Mather novel "With Extreme Prejudice" takes its name from the phrase "terminated with extreme prejudice". Within the book a number of different phrases are used, most commonly "buttoning" up a target.* ''XPD'' by Creator/LenDeighton, referring to the "Expedient Demise" by British Intelligence of [[YouKnowTooMuch anyone who discovers the secret at the heart of the novel]].* In ''Literature/TheWolvesOfWilloughbyChase'', when the protagonists Bonnie and Sylvia overhear Miss Slighcarp discussing the planned murder of their parents, she refers to it as simply "the ''event''."* ''Literature/{{MARZENA}}'', other than the common SpySpeak, [[AuthorAvatar Narrator Writer]] Anika From Bremen will commonly edit out certain explosive terms to make them more fluffy looking to the audience. For example, Jewish becomes either Jedish or Jayish, the word Muslims is replaced by Mooktoo, and the H-Man is the H-Man, [[SpeakOfTheDevil you cannot write down his name]].* Parodied in one Literature/TheSaint story, in which Simon tells HeroicComedicSociopath "Hoppy" Uniatz to "get rid of" a couple of defeated villains. Simon genuinely meant "get them out of my sight then let them go", but Hoppy interpreted "get rid of" as a euphemism and killed them both. When he finds out, Simon isn't particularly upset.* In ''Literature/{{Goldfinger}}'', while visiting Auric Goldfinger's estate, James Bond asks Goldfinger what happened to Jill Masterton, his attractive secretary. Goldfinger cryptically states that she "left his employment." Only when [[spoiler: Tilly reveals that Jill was murdered by Goldfinger]] does Bond realise what ''exactly'' Goldfinger meant.** Much later, Bond ends up dwelling on the use of the word "hit" among the mob, which is preceded by a genuinely funny moment where Goldfinger (who normally comes across as nearly emotionless) claims with a straight face that two separate gangsters fell down the stairs and died.* ''Literature/CitizenOfTheGalaxy'' opens on a brutal slave planet, where many crimes are punishable by "shortening"--that is, beheading.* ''Literature/TheHandmaidsTale'': "Salvaging:" execution by hanging. Particicution: being tortured to death by enraged Handmaids (the term is a dark reference to ParticipACTION, a Canadian public ''exercise'' program).[[/folder]]

[[folder:Live Action TV]]* ''Series/{{Bones}}'' has an episode in which Booth and Brennan are unsure of whether a murder actually occurred or not. To avoid letting any of the potential victim's family members know of their suspicions, they continually refer to him as having been "translated."* When deciding how to take care of a burglar in ''Series/{{Bottom}}'', Eddie lampshades the trope by suggesting: "Why don't we give him the old fish fingers? They've been in there for months, they're absolutely lethal." Before Richie reminds him that they've been eaten already, which is what caused the toilet to be unflushable for the last three days.* ''Series/BreakingBad'' ** Late in the series, Saul suggests that Walt might have to send Hank "to Belize". Belize is where Mike supposedly fled to escape prosecution but Saul has by that point figured out that Walt has killed Mike. Walt is furious at the suggestion and tells Saul that if he brings the matter up again then Saul is the one who will be "going to Belize".** Later still, after Jesse attempts to [[RoaringRampageOfRevenge burn Walt's house down after realizing he poisoned Brock]], Saul suggests that Walt is dealing with "an ''Film/OldYeller''-type situation."-->'''Saul''': "I mean, everybody loved that mutt, but one day he showed up rabid and little Timmy, for Old Yeller's sake, had to...[[MercyKill you saw the movie]]."* The AlternateUniverse Cybermen from the new ''Series/DoctorWho'' refer to killing as "deletion", and to assimilating humans into their ranks as "upgrading". Given how the rest of the show doesn't shy from discussions of mortality, this probably reflects on the net-speak nature of the Cybermen rather than any censorship.** This is supported by "The Next Doctor". The Cybermen are explicitly incapable of understanding certain human concepts. When a Human ally of theirs claims she will do her best she has to explain it as "operating at peak efficiency". It's probable that the Cybermen have no real concept of death ([[FridgeLogic for whatever reason]]) and deletion is the closest analogue to it they can come up with.** Classic Doctor Who also gives us an example: The 7th Doctor serial "Ghost Light" describes death as "going to Java", with anyone who's said to be going to Java either dead or is going to be killed pretty soon.** "Do not be alarmed, this is a kindness."*** Of course, what they don't realize is that they are actually just doing their job, but in the wrong way.** The one-off villains the Krillitanes, who disguised themselves as school teachers, got rid of the human teachers when their plan was ready. Or as their boss put it, they took early lunch.** In "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS34E5TimeHeist Time Heist]]" Ms. Delphox, the bank manager of the place the Doctor and company are being made to rob, is very fearful of her boss, the owner Karabraxos, discovering her failure because she will be "fired." This isn't a loss of a job, but being tossed into the incinerator beneath the bank. Oh and [[spoiler:Delphox is Karabraxos' clone and this isn't the first one the owner's "fired."]]* ''Series/FatherTed'' did the "take care of" variant, when Ted realised exactly how his psychotic friend was going to ''take care'' of a large quantity of rabbits.-->'''Ted''': When I said "take care of the rabbits", I was thinking in a Creator/JulieAndrews kind of way. I now realise that you thought I meant sort of an Creator/AlPacino way.* Being ''"Walked down the alley"'' by Chris and Snoop in ''Series/TheWire''.* On the short-lived series ''Series/{{Kidnapped}}'', the assassin used by the bad guys is referred to as The Accountant, and they routinely order him to "close the account" on a particular person.* ''Series/LaFemmeNikita'': "Canceled". "[[TheUriahGambit Abeyance operatives]]". For such a cold and calculated organization Section 1 do like euphemisms, and they don't seem to even try to hide their meanings.* Likewise, in the remake ''Series/{{Nikita}}'', Division refers to killing their own agents/trainees/prisoners as "canceling" them.* There was a ''Series/{{Sliders}}'' episode where they land on a world where people can get free money for a chance to be killed. They use euphemisms and the main characters aren't aware why they're getting the money.* Lampshaded by the Garak of the Mirror Universe in ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine''. He tells Kira that tomorrow the Intendant (Kira's double from the Mirror Universe) will be "gone." "Gone?" asks Kira and Mirror-Garak repeats "gone" and then comments "Please don't make me use some foolish euphemism." A bit later, he tells Kira that he doesn't go along with her plan, then her doctor-friend (Julian Bashir) will instead be "gone."* In the ''Series/StarTrekVoyager'' episode "Nemesis", the Defenders and the Kradin refer to the killing of an enemy as "nullifying" them.* Gloriously lampshaded in ''Series/ThatMitchellAndWebbLook'' [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgX6JFoV0TM here]]:--> '''Alan:''' "Have him removed"? "Take him out of the picture"? I thought we agreed at the meeting that these terms were needlessly ambiguous. We all agreed that when we want someone ''murdered'', i.e., [[DepartmentofRedundancyDepartment deliberately killed to death]], then that's what we were gonna say!\\...\\'''Alan''': This is gonna be "Let's hope Professor Ritson meets with a little accident" all over again! We spent nine months ''hoping'' that Professor Ritson would meet with an accident before Leslie made it clear it was an accident ''[[MakeItLookLikeAnAccident we were supposed to make happen]]!''* ''Series/TokusouSentaiDekaranger'' also uses "deletion" but in this case it refers to a specific form of DeaderThanDead. The extraterrestrial criminals are not only executed, but their remains are sterilised so that no clone can be made...[[CloningBlues unless they left genetic material elsewhere]]...* On ''Series/TheWestWing'', President Bartlet has to have it explained to him why they're sending in a "{{CIA}} wet team" for an operation in a landlocked country. "Wet" does not refer to an aquatic specialty, but that they are expected to get wet with blood.* In Season 7 of ''Series/TwentyFour'', a terrorist dictator takes control of the White House and captures the president, her daughter, and a bunch of other hostages. The president asks him to release the hostages, since she's the one that he wants. He shoots one of the hostages and asks if she'd like him to "release" any more of them, starting with her daughter.* In the ''Series/{{Firefly}}'' episode "House of Gold" Nandi tells Mal why she quit being a [[HighClassCallGirl Companion]], which involved smashing a dulcimer during practice out of frustration. She then tells him about the pimp who owned the House of Gold brothel before she took over.--> '''Mal:''' What happened to him?\\'''Nandi:''' Let's just say he ain't playin' the dulcimer anymore either. ''(she and Mal laugh and clink glasses)''* ''Series/BurnNotice'': One of Mike's voiceovers in [[Recap/BurnNoticeS1E9HardBargain "Hard Bargain"]] uses one while describing hostage rescue tactics, including why he's mixing up a batch of thermite.--> "Rescuing a hostage isn't about battering rams and guns. Charge through a door with a gun and chances are the person you're trying to save will be the first one lying on the floor dying of acute lead poisoning."* ''Series/AgentsOfSHIELD'' occasionally uses "crossing off" to refer to killing an enemy.* ''Series/{{The 100}}'': Prisoners in the SpaceStation the Ark are executed by being ThrownOutTheAirlock, so the people on the Ark have come to adopt "floating" as a euphemism for execution. Notable when some of the people sent to Earth call for a presumed murderer to be hanged by saying "I say we float him!"* ''Series/TokusouSentaiDekaranger'' and ''Series/TokumeiSentaiGoBusters'': Both Alienizers and Metaroids are "deleted" rather than killed.* The famous "Dead Parrot Sketch" from ''Series/MontyPythonsFlyingCircus'' has the complaining customer let off a {{hurricane|OfEuphemisms}} of these to describe the [[SelfDemonstratingArticle ex-parrot]].* In the ''Series/{{Eureka}}'' episode "A New World", Allison warns her fellow time travellers that if the military learn they've altered history, they will be isolated and "sanctioned".-->'''Fargo''': Sanctioned, like, dead?-->'''Jo''': [[SarcasmMode No, sanctioned like we each get a puppy.]]* ''Series/TheHandmaidsTale'': "Common mercy" and "particicution" are used as terms for two kinds of public execution, with "salvaging" for executions as a whole.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Music]]* In Music/{{mothy}}'s [[Franchise/EvilliousChronicles Gift From The Princess Who Brought Sleep]], until the bridge, it's impossible to tell that the singer has [[spoiler: mass-murdered everyone in her town, starting with her husband.]] And even after TheReveal, she continues to refer to death as 'sleep'.* Music/PearlJam's "Jeremy" from ''Music/{{Ten}}'' provides one of the most famous examples. It is based on a true story of a boy named Jeremy who shot himself in front of his class:--> ''Jeremy spoke in class today''[[/folder]]

[[folder:Radio]]* Played with in the radio version of ''Radio/TheHitchhikersGuideToTheGalaxy'', where Hig Hurstenflurst explains his use of "revoked" to Arthur by spelling it out as "k-i-l-l-e-d."** This is part of a larger legal wrangle where (for various reasons) the representatives of a cloning agency were trying to get murder redefined in law. They'd managed to have the word legally changed, but not the spelling.** Earlier in the series, Slartibartfast threatens Arthur that he will be "late" as in "the late Dent Arthur Dent" unless Arthur comes with him.-->'''Slartibartfast''': It's a sort of threat, you see. I've never been terribly good at them myself but I'm told they can be terribly effective.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Tabletop Games]]* ''TabletopGame/TheDraculaDossier'': Edom doesn't order your player-characters killed if they Learn Too Much, they "issue an indulgence". (Possibly an allusion to Van Helsing's justification for using the Host as anti-vampire weaponry.)[[/folder]]

[[folder:Theater]]* The ''Theatre/LesMiserables'' musical frequently uses "sleeping" rather than "dead" (i.e., "Please stay 'till I am sleeping," from Fantine as she's dying) in the songs." Also, most of the sinister feel is absent, as the meaning is immediately clear from context and there are plenty of times where they say "die" instead.* ''Theatre/SweeneyToddTheDemonBarberOfFleetStreet'': "And I guarantee to give you, without a penny's charge, the closest shave you have ever known."* In ''Theatre/{{Urinetown}}'', anyone who refuses to use the pay toilets, or otherwise causes trouble, is shipped off to the eponymous town.-->'''Bobby''': So what's it like, this "Urinetown" that I've heard so much about?\\'''Officer Barrel''': Perhaps better for us to "show" you.\\'''Bobby''': Wait a minute, you're just going to throw me off this roof and that's supposed to be Urinetown?! Death is Urinetown?!\\'''Officer Lockstock''': That's one interpretation.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Video Games]]* ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedOrigins'' has the "Headache Remedy". It's effects are rather permanent, though given that it's a [[https://acorigins.fanswiki.com/Headache_Remedy heavy blunt weapon]].* Whenever the Seven Deities of ''VideoGame/AsurasWrath'' go out "saving souls," they're slaughtering humans for their Mantra, when they undergo an "exorcism," they're taking out their own ships to destroy a threat on board, and when they attempt a "purification," they're straight up killing someone.* The 1997 ''VideoGame/BladeRunner'' video game by Creator/WestwoodStudios also uses [[Film/BladeRunner the film's]] euphemism of "retirement" when referring to replicants. * In the ''VideoGame/{{Crusader}}'' games, the summary execution of a [=WEC=] official on the orders of a more senior official was termed "Early Retirement".* ''VideoGame/DwarfFortress'': [[TotalPartyKill Los]][[RocksFallEveryoneDies ing]] [[PointlessDoomsdayDevice is]] [[DugTooDeep fun!]]** Also, if you find [[{{Unobtanium}} cotton candy]] it might lead you to the [[PhysicalHell circus]] where [[TheLegionsOfHell clowns]] will [[KillEmAll entertain]] all your dwarves!* ''VideoGame/ElShaddaiAscensionOfTheMetatron'': A rare heroic example. God has commanded you to "purify" the [[FallenAngel Fallen Angels]]. That said, [[SatanIsGood Lucifel]] [[SubvertedTrope straight up tells you to kill them]]. * In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyX,'' Tidus is kept in the dark about how Yuna was going to die at the end of the pilgrimage for the bulk of the game. Summoners who complete their pilgrimage (thus defeating Sin and [[SenselessSacrifice dying a horrible senseless death]]) are known as High Summoners.** Though that's not the real euphemism. High Summoner is a title granted for defeating Sin, which is why it is given to Yuna when she permanently vanquishes Sin and lives. The real euphemism is that people are talking in code about it, like saying that a summoner's job is to bring peace to Spira (which it is, but there's no way an outsider like Tidus would know that this involves them laying down their lives in the process).*** "Final Summoning" would be another one, since it's basically a euphemism for "commit suicide in spectacular fashion".** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIII'' has the "Purge," in which citizens who are supposedly contaminated by elements from Pulse are "deported" or "relocated" to there, being referred to as "brave Pulse pioneers." In actuality, the Purge is cover for the mass execution of any of these citizens who are unable to escape. As the character Lightning explains -- "Sanctum logic. They conjured up the Purge to eliminate a threat. I mean, why carry the danger all the way to Pulse? Why not just stamp it out here? Execution masquerading as exile. That's all the Purge ever was."* A one-off example in ''VideoGame/FireEmblemAwakening'', after [[OnlyInItForTheMoney Anna]] has taken advantage of Tiki's celebrity status for a GetRichQuickScheme:-->'''Tiki:''' And you will give me every coin you have so far earned in my name. I shall see if I can't return them to their former owners personally.\\'''Anna:''' Oh, come on! you're killing me here!\\'''Tiki:''' You are free, of course, to decline. In which case you may pursue a new career opportunity in [[ImAHumanitarian food services.]]* The Overwatch dispatcher from ''VideoGame/HalfLife2'' speaks almost entirely in these. "Sterilize" is her usual euphemism for "kill on sight". She seems to favour medical terms.* The original ''VideoGame/{{Homeworld}}'' has a cutscene noting the fate of the captain of a captured Taiidan ship by stating that "the subject did not survive [[ColdBloodedTorture interrogation]]". It's not clear if it's an euphemism for 'we tortured him so much during the interrogation that he died on us' or 'when he told us why they burned down the planet we were so furious we killed him'. It could very well have been both.* In a ShoutOut to ''Film/BladeRunner'', reploids in the ''VideoGame/MegaManX'' and ''VideoGame/MegaManZero'' games are "retired".** However, the word "kill" was used in ''VideoGame/MegaManXCommandMission'', such as when Nana refers to Silver Horn's threat of killing all the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/POW POW]]s if she refused to cooperate.* In ''VideoGame/PaperMarioTheThousandYearDoor'', when Koops is reunited with his father Koopley, he says "For ten long years we all thought you'd... you know! [[LeaningOnTheFourthWall We thought your game was over!"]]** It comes back in its sequel, ''VideoGame/SuperPaperMario'': "Princess Peach, do you take Bowser to be your lawfully wedded husband [[LeaningOnTheFourthWall 'til your games be over?"]]* In the mobile ''VideoGame/PokemonMagikarpJump'', you train the titular fish to [[InASingleBound jump good]] until they hit their level {{cap}}. Once this is done, it will get retired after its next tournament run and get replaced by the next generation. You might notice you also have a "Forced Retirement" stat, though... There are certain events that cause your Magikarp to be lost forever, and the first one you're likely to see involves your fish being preyed upon by Pidgeotto. It can be [[SurpriseCreepy kind of a shocker]] to get struck with [[PlayerPunch those events]], given the lighthearted nature of the game and the series in general. * ''VideoGame/{{Portal}}'':** [=GLaDOS=] uses the term "euthanized", in reference to both test subjects and also to inanimate objects.** [[CompanionCube Or so]] [[ParanoiaFuel the player]] [[EpilepticTrees assumes]].** [[KillItWithFire "Baked"]] was another one, although she's pretty straightforward about what [[GrimyWater the green stuff at the bottom of some test chambers]] will do to test subjects: "The floor here will kill you, try to avoid it."* In ''VideoGame/StarWarsBattlefront II'', the Imperial player receives a reward for the 'pacifying' Kashyyyk. Apparently, the only good Wookiee is a passive Wookiee.* ''VideoGame/StarCraft'': Protoss don't annihilate planets, they ''purify'' them.* In ''VideoGame/{{Syndicate}}'' (2012), "unusual and innovative lobbying techniques" are used to describe a multiple murder and putting of people into comas.* In ''VideoGame/TheWorldEndsWithYou'', no one dies; they get "erased." [[spoiler: The Players are [[DeadToBeginWith already dead]]; they're all playing for a [[WinYourFreedom second chance at life]].]]* In ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'', Algalon the Observer talks about "re-origination" as the consequence of a world's failure to measure up to the standards of his masters, the Titans. "Re-origination" refers to the complete destruction of all life in a world followed immediately by the remaking of life in the world according to the Titans' original blueprints.* ''Videogame/SupremeCommander'', the Aeon plan to convert everyone into The Way, and cleanse the galaxy of non-believers.* One of the traps in ''VideoGame/TheForest'' is named the "Happy Birthday" trap.* ''Videogame/WatchDogs''. Villain Clients: When dealing with a freaking [[spoiler:slaver]], don't assume that "Take care of her" means protect the liability. You can shoot the guy who says he did it to protect his client, but he has kids.* In ''Videogame/BorderlandsThePreSequel'', after learning that [[spoiler:the Meriff]] is blocking the signal to Helios, Jack tells the players that he plans to have a "talk" with him. All the characters begin to lampshade the use of this trope, but Jack then clarifies that he really is just planning to talk with the guy.-->'''[[MyMasterRightOrWrong Claptrap]]''': I understand and acknowledge your euphemistic use of the world "Talk"!-->'''[[TokenGoodTeammate Athena]]''': I'm not helping you torture him, Jack.-->'''[[TokenEvilTeammate Nisha]]''': Like the fun kind of the talk or the dull kind?-->'''[[OnlyInItForTheMoney Wilhelm]]''': Right. Kill him. Got it.-->'''[[ActionSurvivor Jack Body Double]]''': Like... kill him, or actually... talk?-->'''[[RichBitch Aurelia]]''': Implied Violence! Now my dear, you are speaking my language!* Probably makes up 50% of the dialogue of the HK-50 droids in ''VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublicIITheSithLords''. For example, from the one you meet in the JustifiedTutorial:-->"Besides, as you proved, Master, such droids could never pose a threat to a Jedi... the droids were custodial in nature, cleaning the facility of other ''distractions''."[[labelnote:Translation]]They were meant to keep your unconscious body safe and did so by killing every miner they encountered.[[/labelnote]]* The [[CreepyChild Little Sisters]] in ''VideoGame/{{BioShock}}'' refer to dead bodies they can harvest ADAM from as "angels". When one of them sees Jack lying motionless on the ground, she says that he's still breathing, but "he'll be an angel soon". ''VideoGame/{{BioShock 2}}'' reveals that [[spoiler:[[ThroughTheEyesOfMadness they actually see the corpses as angels, people peacefully sleeping on the ground with the outline of a halo and angel wings, surrounded by rose petals]].]]* The titular "New n Tasty" of ''[[VideoGame/{{Oddworld}} Oddworld: New n Tasty]]'' is the in-universe code name for the latest product soon to be released by the food manufacturing company Rupture Farms. The game starts off with a Mudokon slave working at Rupture Farms 1029, their biggest meat packing factory, discovering what New n Tasty is: the company plans to genocide his entire species to sell as delicious food snacks for the other races.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Visual Novels]]* ''VisualNovel/HigurashiWhenTheyCry'':** "Demoned Away" (''onikakushi'', with ''oni'' replacing the ''kami'' in ''kamikakushi''; "spirited away") is a euphemism for killed that is frequently used in the series.** "Transfering out" is another common euphemism. It refers to Satoko's brother Satoshi, who mysteriously disappeared a year ago. [[spoiler:Subverted with Satoshi as he's actually in a ConvenientComa]]. There are other variations that the characters used too, usually not in the anime though.* ''VisualNovel/UminekoWhenTheyCry'':** Kasumi, Ange's [[EvilUncle evil aunt]] and eventual guardian says that she and her body guards will "have tea" with Ange. Later on, we find out that she really means that she will beat her to death.** We eventually find out that when characters in the early arcs talked about "opening the door to the Golden Land", they meant blowing up Rokkenjima with the 900 tons of explosives stashed under it.* In [=ClockUp=]'s ''Euphoria'', Nemu refers to death as "The End" when the others characters begin to discuss about executing a LoopholeAbuse that would allow them to get the food from the VIP room to the outside, and she is convinced that doing something like that would get all of them killed like Miyako.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Webcomics]]* In ''ComicBook/BuckGodotZapGunForHire'', when Louisa Dem Five's friend Oort is killed, she holds a "New Hong Kong wake" ... during which she secretly poisons his murderer with a drug overdose.-->'''Qvakk:''' "Sorry I ruined Oort's wake..."-->'''Louisa:''' "You didn't, dear. This is what a New Hong Kong wake '''is'''."* Parodied in ''Webcomic/DarthsAndDroids'' [[http://www.darthsanddroids.net/episodes/0789.html here]]:-->'''Imperial Officer''': Right, you lot. We're the welcoming party, so let's act like it. We're giving them the "full tour".\\'''Clone Trooper''': Right, sir! The "full tour", eh?\\'''Imperial Officer''': Er... by "full tour" I mean as much of the tour as is possible given the incomplete nature of the Memorial Gardens.\\'''Clone Trooper''': Oh! I thought you meant something completely different. That was lucky.** There's also the "Peace Moon" in general. Because gigantic [[RealLifeWritesThePlot planet-destroying weaponry is apparently the only way to keep the peace]].* In the [[AllTrollsAreDifferent troll]] society in ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'', the less useful members of the populace -- such as, say, [[WheelchairWoobie the disabled]] -- are in risk of "culling".** Then inverted in pre-Scratch troll society, where "culling" means "looked after".** Rose's introductory arc also used "unestablished" a few times, referring to both a laboratory scheduled for ColonyDrop and an unfortunate creature therein.* Played with in ''Webcomic/SluggyFreelance'', when Torg and Riff are hired by a sinister figure to arrange a "dirt nap" for somebody. They start by digging an out-of-the-way grave...at which point Sam shows up, to take a nap in dirt, as vampires do. The sinister figure owed Sam a favour for fitting his wife with cement shoes (they're a great workout for your calves!).** Also [[http://www.sluggy.com/comics/archives/daily/051206 this]].* Lampshaded in ''Webcomic/{{Thunderstruck}}'', where Stella Wincott [[http://talesfromthevault.com/thunderstruck/comic233.html correctly anticipates this trope]]: "I'm sure you have some other word for it. Some nice, sanitized euphemism for killing. Well, go ahead."* In ''Webcomic/TheAdventuresOfDrMcNinja'', [[AuthorityEqualsAsskicking President Funkhouser]] [[http://drmcninja.com/archives/comic/30p45/ "exiles"]] the [[spoiler: Vice President]] into outer space for treason after finding out that he was a part of a conspiracy to commit a [[TheCoup coup]] against her. * In ''Webcomic/SkinHorse'', underlings at [[EvilCorporation Anasigma]] are frequently threatened with "extirpation". Unfortunately, [[RunningGag none of them]] [[DeconstructedTrope know what "extirpate" means"]], and those doing the threatening [[ClassifiedInformation aren't authorized to explain]] (which is convenient, because none of them seem to know either).-->'''Number Fifteen:''' [[NoodleImplements Okay, okay, it involves walnuts. Don't ask me again.]]* In ''Webcomic/{{Polandball}}'', "remove kebab" is a rallying cry to eliminate Muslims. (Whether the comic itself advocates or opposes this sentiment varies from artist to artist.)[[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Original]]* WebOriginal/JeffTheKiller of {{Creepypasta}} fame practically has "GO TO SLEEP" as his catchphrase by now.* The immortal elves in ''Literature/TalesOfMU'' don't like to talk about dying. The pale-skinned surface elves "take leave" when [[WhoWantsToLiveForever ennui sets in]]. Their dark-skinned cousins "greet the goddess".* The Wiki/SCPFoundation does not kill. It "terminates". Sometimes people get killed. Their [[http://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/how-to-write-an-scp#toc5 style guide]] explains the difference.** The only major exception to this rule is the Foundation's Ethics Committee, which never use eupemishms, stating that their job is to deal with the "Cold, harsh truth"* In ''Podcast/WithinTheWires'', what goes on in the Extensive Studies Lab is referred to only as "[[{{Lobotomy}} Carpentry]]". Because between the use of anaesthetics and jaw restraints, all you can hear are noises that sound like carpentry. The smell of sawdust is how you can tell if actual carpentry is taking place.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Western Animation]]* ''WesternAnimation/ReBoot'' often used "erase" and "delete" in place of death. Since this show is [[{{Cyberspace}} inside a computer]] this is appropriate given what erasing and deleting do to actual code. There's really no attempt at hiding what those words actually mean in this show.* Subverted on an [[BizarroEpisode episode]] of ''WesternAnimation/TheMask'', that parodied ''Franchise/PlanetOfTheApes''. Characters are told that they will be "terminated", and assume the natives are out to kill them, but as it turns out that just means they will be fired from the city-enveloping [[MegaCorp corporation]] (which they, being from another time, don't actually work for).* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'':** Fat Tony and his gang talk like this quite often. When, for example, Tony orders Louie to "take care" of a woman who has been annoying him, Louie worries whether his boss meant for him to take care of her or...''[[LampshadedDoubleEntendre take care of her]]''. ("If I get it wrong, he's gonna take care of me!")** In "The Mook, the Chef, the Wife and Her Homer":-->'''Fat Tony''': The sit-down’s tonight? Again this Palm Pilot has failed to remind me! I believe this needs to be hot-synced. [''Louie takes Palm Pilot and shoots it''] What are you doing?!-->'''Louie''': I thought you meant ‘hot-sync’ it. You know how it is with us, everything means kill!** In "A Fish Called Selma" there's was a rumor spreading around about washed-up actor Troy [=McClure=] committing sexual acts with fish at an aquarium. Fat Tony tells Legs that Troy "sleeps with the fishes", Legs assumed he meant he was dead and is disgusted when Tony tells him the rumor.** Inverted in "Bart of Darkness", wherein Bart and Lisa suspect Ned Flanders of murdering his wife, and their suspicions are apparently confirmed when Rod and Todd ask where their mother is, and Ned sadly tells them: "She's with God now." (Maude had actually gone on a religious retreat, and Ned was sad because he'd accidentally killed one of her plants.)** On one occasion, in "Lisa the Skeptic", when Mr. Burns lets a damaging fact slip:-->'''Burns:''' Oh! [[HeKnowsTooMuch I've said too much]]. Smithers, use the [[LaserGuidedAmnesia amnesia ray]].\\'''Smithers:''' You mean the revolver, sir?\\'''Burns:''' Precisely. Be sure to wipe your own memory clear when you've finished.* ''WesternAnimation/JackieChanAdventures'': Shendu (as a spirit possessing Valmont's body) told that the reports on his "demise" had been exaggerated.* Subverted in one episode of ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants''.--> '''Spongebob''': Squidward... he's pushing up daisies!--> '''Patrick''': [[EuphemismBuster Oh, I thought he was dead.]]* In the ''WesternAnimation/HeyArnold'' episode: "Old Iron Man", Grandpa enters a triathlon with his competitive friend Jimmy. During the swimming portion of the race, they get lost in the ocean and worry they're about to die and begin exchanging euphemisms.--> '''Grandpa''': We're going to Davy Jones' Locker!--> '''Jimmy''': Kicking the bucket!--> '''Grandpa''': Buying the water farm!--> '''Jimmy''': Checking out of the Hotel of Life!--> '''Grandpa''': And checking into the Hotel of Death!--> '''Jimmy''': The Big Roundup!--> '''Grandpa''': The Last Tango in Paris!--> '''Jimmy''': The Last Tango in Paris? [[LampshadeHanging That's not a euphemism for dying!]]--> '''Grandpa''': I know but it was my turn and I ran out of euphemisms and I didn't want to lose the game!** In "Grandpa's Birthday", Grandpa (worried that he's going to pass away on his 81st birthday) uses the phrase "Buying the farm" to Arnold. Arnold takes it literally at first.* ''WesternAnimation/HomeMovies'': the kids sometimes think they're hearing such a euphemism, like when a news reporter said she wanted to "do a piece on them".* ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'' parodies this when Donbot decides Bender (who's scabbing at a factory where the employees are on strike) is going to "have an accident". It goes right over Joey Mousepad's head:--> "With all due respect, Donbot, I don't think we should rely on an accident to happen. Let's kill him ourselves."* ''WesternAnimation/BeastWars'' uses the term "slagged" to refer to "blown up" or "killed". [[/folder]]

[[folder:Real Life]]* [[http://www.nizkor.org/features/techniques-of-denial/st-01.html "Special treatment"]] (''Sonderbehandlung'') is the best-known euphemism used by numerous German government and paramilitary agencies during UsefulNotes/WorldWarII, and could mean execution. Others terms included:** 'Desert Zones' - ''Wüstenzonen'', Army term for areas depopulated through the deportation or execution of all inhabitants and in which all structures had been razed, so those communities couldn't support partisans or enemy special agents. No food or shelter was provided to deported populations, so deportation generally meant slower death. ** 'Minesweeper-42' - ''Minensuchgerät (zweiundvierzig)'', Army term for roller or plough tied to a non-German, so only one non-German at a time would die. Previous measures had been highly inefficient, since a single mine detonation could reduce the clearing speed of multiple units or make them totally unavailable (the elderly, women, and children were egregiously affected, lacking the upper-body strength to drag themselves effectively or resilience to continue functioning more generally). More considerate commanders tried to make exclusive use of POW or Undesirables, and only expended non-German natives when these stocks had been exhausted. ** 'Volunteer' - ''Hilfswiliger'' or ''Hiwi'', general term for conscripted Soviet POW and civilians. German citizens legally couldn't be forced to kill people, so police units asked ''Hilfswiliger'' to choose between 'volunteering' for it or being tortured and/or killed. Provision of alcohol increased ''Hiwi'' mileage. ** 'Special Unit' - ''Sonderkommando'', police term for volunteer prisoners from labour camps used to move, strip, and dispose of corpses to significantly increase ''Hiwi'' mileage. ** 'Task Force' - ''Einsatzgruppen'', official name of police units used exclusively to kill POW and civilians who might become spies or saboteurs. Communists and Jews were considered both by definition. ** 'Special Action' - ''Sonderaktion'', police term for deportation of a Jewish Ghetto, sometimes to extermination facilities. ** Government agencies had numerous euphemisms concerning UsefulNotes/TheHolocaust. "Resettlement in the East" referred to the Ghettoization process and initial attempts at resettlement in the Lublin District of the Generalgouvernement. "FinalSolution to the Jewish Question" was used by the Security Police for their deportation plan of Jews to an unspecified area. Initially intending only to kill most of them through hard labour and sterilize the rest, it was later repurposed to kill the entire Jewish population of Germany and Poland and was termed ''Operation Reinhard''. ** The term "concentration camp" was a Deadly Euphemism in some cases, as the regime did not officially admit that extermination facilities existed. The original definition of "concentration camp" was a 'prison where the civilian population of South Africa is concentrated and held so they cannot aid the Boer insurgency'. [[note]] Life in the camps was harsh, but not deliberately cruel or deadly. Mismanagement did however cause numerous avoidable deaths from starvation and disease [[/note]] The "euphemistic" definition has almost completely supplanted the original definition.*** Somewhat justified, considering that not all of the Nazi concentration camps were death camps, and some were both death camps and labor camps, so it's only natural the two would be conflated.* The Soviets (more specifically Soviet foreign minister Vyacheslav Molotov), during the Winter War, referred to the bombings on the Finnish people as "airdropping food to the starving Finnish." Ironically, this resulted in the Finnish nicknaming the Soviet cluster bombs as "Molotov's breadbaskets," and coining the infamous name of their improvised incendiary weapon, the MolotovCocktail. "A drink to go with the bread."* In UsefulNotes/WorldWarII, the Japanese were not invading and conquering Asia, they were "liberating" Asia from colonial rule.* Similarly, there was no Chinese invasion of Tibet in 1950. Instead, it was a "peaceful liberation".* The United States did not invade Iraq in 2003; instead it began "the disarmament of the Iraqi regime".* Governments "neutralizing" their victims.* An interesting example is the phrase "terminate with extreme prejudice". The original phrase was "terminate with prejudice", which in the business world meant "fire him and [[PersonaNonGrata don't forget why]]". ** The history of this is rather interesting:*** Originally, the terminology arose in the courts. A case dismissed "without prejudice" could be filed again, typically because the case was not decided on the merits and the dismissal was on some technical ground: for instance, if you made a mistake in your filings,[[note]]That is, the court tells you, "Go home and do your paperwork right, then come back and we'll talk."[[/note]] or if the court you sued in didn't have jurisdiction to hear the case.[[note]]That is, the court tells you, "You sent your paperwork to the wrong place; send it somewhere else."[[/note]] A case is dismissed "''with'' prejudice" when it is considered a ''res judicata'' (an adjudicated affair, i.e., a settled dispute); usually this means it was decided on the merits, and therefore cannot be filed again.[[note]]However, that a case dismissed without prejudice may still be barred from being filed again if the statute of limitations has passed. At that point you understand why in the legal world "SOL" means both "StatuteOfLimitations" and "shit outta luck".[[/note]]*** By analogy, the business world came to use the phrases to differentiate between employees who were merely laid off for economic reasons or fired "for cause" but for a relatively minor reason like incompetence or laziness (terminated without prejudice), and those who were fired "for cause" for a major reason, i.e., for serious misconduct like fraud or embezzlement (terminated with prejudice). Employees terminated without prejudice, having been let go for economic reasons or for something fixable, might be rehired at some point in the future; those terminated with prejudice, having been let go for bad behavior, will not be. *** From business, the phrase migrated to the military, being used as a check-box on Army after-action reports: Terminate without prejudice meant let an agent or operative go but allow possible future employment, terminate with prejudice meant that he was unsuitable for future employment. "Terminated with extreme prejudice" was never used in any official capacity, but was more of a (gruesome) joke used to describe anybody who died in combat or in any other way. The phrase's current meaning caught on after the New York Times published a (sensationalist) article about the Green Berets in Vietnam.* Euphemisms and coded language are often used by criminals to try to avoid detection. However, coded language and euphemisms can be introduced as evidence of conspiracy so you're screwed coming and going.* In the Philippine police and military, the term "salvage" is used in place of "summary execution." (This term was adopted by Margaret Atwood in ''The Handmaid's Tale''.) This also caused some confusion with the line "Is there any way to salvage this man?" was uttered in the ''Film/StarshipTroopers'' film when it was shown in the country.** Ironically the main character of Starship Troopers (in the original book) is Filipino. * During the Soeharto regime days in Indonesia, being "secured" (more literally, "taken to a safe place") either refers to anything from house arrest, exile, or death sentence.* In various places in South America, an unofficial euphemism for clandestine abduction and extrajudiciary execution is "disappear", as in people getting disappeared. It is a crime against humanity officially known as ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enforced_disappearance enforced disappearance.]]''** Memorialized in the ''Literature/CatchTwentyTwo'' quote: "They're going to disappear him? They can't disappear him! That's impossible! It's not even good grammar!"* During the UsefulNotes/NationalReorganizationProcess in UsefulNotes/{{Argentina}}, a number of "disappeared" people would be selected for "transfer" and then summarily executed. Infamously, many were drugged and thrown into the ocean from helicopters.* In Colombia there's an idiom: "hacer una vuelta" or "hacer la vuelta" which means "running an errand". A slight variation ("hacerle la vuelta" which means "running an errand to [person being talked about]") is also used as an euphemism for the act of carrying a contract killing.* Destructive nuclear potency is measured in ''sunshine units''. A related term employed when discussing nuclear war, ''megadeath,'' is only marginally less upsetting than just coming out and saying "one million civilian casualties" (it's much shorter, though, so it might not actually be used as a euphemism).* The word ''execute'' was itself originally one of these -- it was being used in the "carry out an order" sense, short for "execute the death sentence". ''Executioner'' itself is an euphemism for a ''hangman'' (who carries out judicial hangings) or ''headsman'' (who carries out judicial beheadings). ''State electrician'' is the executioner who operates the electric chair.** A similar example would be "undertaker", although here it is just dealing with the disposal of dead bodies, not causing them to be dead. The word is a "false friend" for German and Dutch speakers, as it sounds like a literal equivalent of "Unternehmer" and "Ondernemer", both meaning entrepreneur.** Some of the American states which used to execute offenders by the electric chair called their executioners "State Electricians".** The official name for the French executioner was "Chief/Deputy Executor of the criminal rulings for the French Republic"[[note]]''Executeur en chef/adjoint des arrêts criminels de la République Française''[[/note]] because he had to "execute" the capital rulings.* A couple examples from the United States include ''{{enhanced interrogation|Techniques}}'' for [[JackBauerInterrogationTechnique torture]] and ''contingency operations'' for war.** In the legal sense, these conflicts are not war. There was no declaration of war. The United States has not issued a declaration of war since 1941.* "Liquidate" was the preferred word for executions during Stalin's regime in the Soviet Union, though it became widely known that it was as a synonym for "kill".** Another was the "[[SuperFunHappyThingOfDoom Ultimate Measure of Social Security]]" (death penalty).* Many English-speaking militaries ironically invert this, using "kill" in contexts referring to vehicles and structures (which are usually manned, but not actually alive themselves).** Brit military slang: 'we slotted a couple and the rest had second thoughts'. Have also heard 'gack/ed' and 'croak/ed'.** American military personnel are the same, referring to enemy structures, vehicles, and positions, almost anything they fire on that's subsequently destroyed, as "kills." It's likely just a quick military slang, like how "klicks" refer to kilometers. In this case, it's just easier to say a vehicle was killed than destroyed. It's an effective slang because it also evokes the right image of enemy vehicle or whatever taken out of commission.*** Derives in part from the term "mission kill" where major war fighting assets (a ship, airplane, tank, etc.) may not be destroyed outright, but are sufficiently damaged that they cannot execute their assigned mission. * ''Wet job'', from the Russian мокрое дело (mokroye delo) refers to assassination, usually in an espionage context. The term dates back to 19th century criminal slang for a robbery involving murder, because the victim gets wet with blood.** It is still used in criminal context in modern Russian and Polish, where 'wet job specialist' means a 'hitman' or 'assassin'.** It's also still used in America. "Wet job," "wet work" or "wet team" is assumed to mean murder in the course of doing whatever the job is. * "Police Action", first used by Harry Truman to describe the Korean War, now in common use. It generally means "a war that is not officially declared as a war, but usually cites some violation of international law and/or explicit authorization from the UsefulNotes/UnitedNations as justification." This makes the terminology make a fair bit of sense: a state that violated international law is, in effect, a criminal, and in the absence of a neutral world police force, states are (in the modern understanding) entitled to enforce international law on the behalf of the international community--''if'' the international community, as embodied by the UN (and specifically the Security Council) says it's OK.** Several years before that, in 1947 and 1949, Dutch military actions in Indonesia (then a Dutch colony) were also referred to as "police actions", even though they resembled the Vietnam War more than anything, including entire villages being massacred.* During the Rwandan Genocide the mass murders were described by the government as "working". For example, in one province, where the local governor didn't want to participate in the genocide, Rwanda's presidents ordered him removed, so that they could "work".* Subway/train suicides in Japan are referred to as "human damage incidents."** Similar to the aviation term for a plane hitting a bird, 'bird strike incident'. WhatMeasureIsANonHuman** It's common in New York too, where service disruptions caused by people being run over (suicide or otherwise) are always referred to as "police investigations." That term is also used to refer to literal police investigations, so it can be somewhat ambiguous. Subway workers and those who picked up the term from other sources typically refer to such a thing as a "12-9;" the radio code for such incidents.** In Germany (or Hamburg at least) the incredibly bureaucratic word ''"Personenanfahrschaden"'' (untranslatable -- maybe ''Person knock-down damage'') was in use, but this practice was discontinued, probably because of silliness and a not really working euphemism.*** Google translate offered the alternative "Personen Anfahrschäden", which it translated to 'People ramming'.** Oddly, within the London Underground, public service announcements about these incidents are likely to be euphemism-free, e.g. 'There are delays on the Jubilee Line due to a suicide at Finchley Road' or 'A person under the train at Dollis Hill'. Meanwhile, amongst Transport For London staff the euphemism one-under is more likely to be used, apparently.** In Paris, such incidents are called "traveler accidents"[[note]]''Accident voyageur''[[/note]]. You know it's just someone getting sick when it's just a "traveler malaise"[[note]]''Malaise voyageur''[[/note]], but when it's a "dire traveler incident"[[note]]''Accident grave voyageur''[[/note]], you know traffic is screwed because someone died and time will be spent cleaning (and collecting evidence for investigating whether it's a suicide or murder).** On a few U.S. railroads (e.g. UsefulNotes/NewJerseyTransit), a suicide is called a "trespasser" or "trespassing incident." An NJT passenger who hears "The Northeast Corridor Line is delayed because of a trespasser incident at Edison" should expect to be at least 20 minutes to an hour late.* Pseudo-Mafia slang: "[[Film/TheGodfather Luca Brasi]] sleeps with the fishes" (no MermaidProblem here) usually refers to a body that's been dumped into the nearest body of water, usually with [[CementShoes some concrete to weigh the body down]], sometimes stuffed into a 55-gallon drum. Generally when such a victim washes up, it's said that "police suspect foul play". Ya think?** "One-way ride". An euphemism used by TheMafia as a gangland hit. uses this to lure their victims in a car, take them to a remote location, usually a forest, where they'll be disposed of (either en route or after arriving).* If it is said that someone, generally in the armed forces, is [[TakeNoPrisoners not taking prisoners]], what do you think happens to the people they capture? A catch and release program? Disarming them and sending them on their way? Maybe... but probably not.** Similar with "giving no quarter".* In the middle and early modern ages, trials for heresy (later also extended to those for witchcraft) would end with the clerical judges handing over those found guilty to the secular authorities, commending them to their mercy. The secular authorities invariably executed them, often by burning at the stake.** Although it was no secret that clerical court had no authority to actually sentence anyone for anything but penance, so they had to delegate any corporal punishment to a secular authority. The second part still stands, given way higher rate of convictions and much more brutal proceedings of secular courts.** Though if one confessed and renounced one's heresy, and did not return to it, one could usually escape with a lesser penance. Relapsed heretics, however...*** Quite a few courts considered cutting your throat before you were burned a ''lesser penance''.* In Finnish criminal slang, a hitman is called a "torpedo".* 'Ethnic cleansing' actually manages to be slightly worse than most of these euphemisms, since it's blatantly racist on top of being euphemistic (and, of course, genocidal.)* "Falling down the stairs" is a common one (in the UK at least) to describe police beating up prisoners, either for interrogation or just revenge. Particularly unfortunate prisoners may manage to [[ImplausibleDeniability fall down the stairs in a single-storey building]].** In Communist-era Poland, political prisoners were often subjected to 'exercise routine' (literally 'path of health'), an euphemism for old-fashioned running a gauntlet or just a simple beating. 'Falling down the stairs' was also a common explanation of bruises.** Unfortunately, a child who "fell down the stairs" (in the UK again) is an euphemism for having suffered physical abuse at the hands of the parents. Also classically used by battered spouses to cover up cases where the blows were to the torso and limbs; if struck in the face, the chosen euphemism would usually be "walked into a door".* Police and traffic-safety dispatchers in Arizona and New Mexico sometimes have difficulty with the fact Navajos prefer to have nothing to do with dead bodies — not only do they try not to look at them, they also don't say "dead" or any synonym. "He has stopped moving" tends to confuse dispatchers who don't know it's a euphemism, since "stop moving" could mean unconsciousness as well.* In the eighteenth and nineteenth century, the British military generally used the fairly-cheerful-sounding "knocked on the head" in place of the more accurate, but somewhat demoralizing, "suffered agonizing injuries that ended in death."* During World War 2, the Royal Air Force said that they would fundamentally shift to a policy called "area bombing" or "morale bombing". A British journalist then said that a campaign of morale bombing was really a cosmetic term for "massacre".** "Dehousing" civilians was another euphemism used in strategic bombing. It was often expected that civilians would be in the structures being dehoused.* One of the court positions of the Ottoman Empire was the "Bostancı-başı," or "Head gardener." While the men he oversaw ''were'' technically responsible for the grounds of the palace, they were also bodyguards, and what the head gardener was actually pruning was people; he served as the emperor's chief executioner.* A (usually) non-fatal variant: members of the US Armed Forces sometimes refer to the Purple Heart (a medal given to military personnel who are wounded in action) as the "Enemy Marksmanship Medal." * A [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derek_Bentley_case famous murder trial]] in the UK hinged on this. The accused had been charged for participating in the murder of a police officer during a robbery, by encouraging his accomplice, the gunman, to kill him. The case hinged on whether what he had said to the accomplice, "Let him have it," meant "Shoot him" or "Hand the gun over to him." He was convicted and hanged, but later was posthumously pardoned. * Victims of the Soviet Union's gulag system would sometimes--either at sentencing or later as a punishment--be "denied the right to correspondence." This was the official explanation to family and friends for why someone was far too executed to write home. The term used for a gulag sentence itself--"corrective labor"--also probably counts considering how often this simply meant a slow lingering death sentence instead of a simple bullet to the head. * Official verbage for vehicle accidents can veer into this, especially when aircraft are involved. When a plane crashes into a mountainside due to pilot error (perhaps due to poor visibility, as opposed to the plane itself malfunctioning), it is known as "Controlled Flight Into Terrain" (this is less a euphemism as it is a clinical term to describe specifically what happened, another example is an "in-flight structural failure" meaning part or all of the plane broke up in mid-air). A slightly more colorful expression is "Augering in", in reference to a tool designed to bore holes into wood and other solid surfaces. ** Although "Augering in" might only be half a euphemism, since it was originally used to describe an aircraft going down in a spin; either a straight one, or a flat spin. They were turning like a drill, thus "augering." Unsurprisingly, this was mostly combat aircraft. ** Likewise, in skydiving, "bouncing" is an euphemism "to land on unsurvivable speed". It invokes an image of one's lifeless body bounces up after the fatal contact with ground.** "To get one's picture on the clubhouse wall" implies a skydiving-related death. Never ask what you need to do to get your photo on the wall.* When someone dies, there are all manner of expressions used to talk around the uncomfortable topic. See the HurricaneOfEuphemisms in the "dead parrot" sketch on ''Series/MontyPythonsFlyingCircus'' for examples.* There is a sarcastic term in Polish for a person possessing compromising information about the people in power (government, organized crime, etc.) who conveniently dies in semi-mysterious circumstances. Such a person is said to have been visited by the "serial suicide".* The idea of UsefulNotes/NuclearWar is so grim that, in official statements, political leaders will not actually threaten to "nuke" someone. Instead, they will use terms such as "grave consequences", "massive retaliation", and "unlimited response". This was double-subverted on 9/11, when top government officials in the U.S. used variations on these phrases in discussing the upcoming American response, one official informing reporters that "We're going to go after them with everything we've got." The fact that no nuclear retaliation followed might lead people to suspect that this example was a subversion of this trope -- except it later came out that these officials knew exactly what they were implying and fully intended a nuclear response to 9/11; it was Bush putting his foot down that prevented such a thing from actually happening.* The word "remove" is commonly used like this in far-right communities online:** "Remove kebab" originated from a series of incoherent memes celebrating the mass slaughter of Muslims during UsefulNotes/TheYugoslavWars, and later gained popularity through usage in ''Webcomic/{{Polandball}}'' (as mentioned above under Webcomics).** "Physical removal", as coined by far-right libertarian philosopher [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans-Hermann_Hoppe Hans-Hermann Hoppe]], initially referred to exiling leftists from society. The phrase gained new life online in the context of ''murdering'' leftists, eventually becoming the name of a now-defunct anti-leftist Website/{{Reddit}} community.* Another far-right catchphrase (often associated with "physical removal", and popular in the aforementioned defunct subreddit) is "free helicopter rides", referring to the practice of [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_flights throwing political dissidents into the ocean from an aircraft]]. This method of extrajudicial execution occurred under a number of regimes, including Zaire (before it became the UsefulNotes/DemocraticRepublicOfTheCongo) as well as UsefulNotes/TheFrenchColonialEmpire, but is most infamously associated with UsefulNotes/{{Argentina}} under the UsefulNotes/NationalReorganizationProcess and UsefulNotes/{{Chile}} under UsefulNotes/AugustoPinochet, which is the period that the "free helicopter rides" memes are invariably harkening back to.* On a similar but usually less lethal note, "actions have consequences" is a far-left rallying cry for retribution against right-wingers, often involving harassment and/or violence.* UsefulNotes/VladimirPutin supposedly has his own catch phrase when he wants someone to be killed, roughly translated as "someone should do something about X". If true, it also gives him plausible deniability if hes even accused of murder, as he can always say one of his subordinates misinterpreted him. * During the Algerian war french conducted mass arrests and interrogations to find The FNL guerillas. When they let person go he was reported to have been "set free". When they were killed they were reported to have been "liberated".[[/folder]]----